Making a YouTube Nursery Rhyme Downloader for My Child
Discovering the Need for Programming in Childcare
When raising a child, you unexpectedly discover the need for programming in unexpected places. For me, YouTube nursery rhymes for my child were the trigger. The nursery rhymes playing from the HomePod every morning became our daily routine, but the problem was that the process was not as smooth as I thought.
Usually, nursery rhyme videos are 1-2 hours long, so I used to play them from the YouTube app on my iPhone or MacBook and AirPlay them to the HomePod. At first, it seemed to work fine, but as time went on, I noticed that the internet throughout the house was strangely slow. I think it was because I was constantly streaming high-definition videos. Moreover, when buffering occasionally occurred, I saw my child getting frustrated, and I thought, 'I need a different way.'
Reviewing YouTube Downloaders
When I searched for YouTube downloaders online, there were too many ads, and high-quality downloads required payment. I thought, 'I could just make this myself, couldn't I?' Through GPT, I was introduced to Python's yt-dlp library.
The code was simpler than I thought. Thanks to Python's powerful libraries, I was able to implement all the desired features in less than 50 lines of code. It downloads in the highest quality MP4 format, shows the progress, and even neatly displays the video information. I also included error handling so that it kindly informs you if the URL is incorrect.
The Synergy of Development and Childcare
What was interesting while developing with GPT was that it wasn't just an automation project, but it became a part of childcare. I choose the nursery rhymes my child likes and download them, and now I don't have to worry about unstable internet connections. I can put them on my Apple devices and play them whenever I need them.
Isn't this the charm of developing with GPT? It's fun to discover a small inconvenience in everyday life, write code to solve it, and see the results actually help. This project was especially meaningful because it was directly connected to my child's daily life.
Preparation for Running the Code
The code is really simple. Create a virtual environment, install yt-dlp, and then just run the script I wrote. Just enter the URL, and it will automatically download it in the highest quality. It also shows the progress, so you can check how much is left, and it kindly informs you when it's complete.
Sample Code for Virtual Environment:
# Create and activate a virtual environment
python3 -m venv youtube-dl-env
source youtube-dl-env/bin/activate
Install the required library
pip install yt-dlp
YouTube Nursery Rhyme Downloader Code Sample:
import yt_dlp
def download_youtube_video(url):
# Download options
ydl_opts = {
'format': 'bestvideo[ext=mp4]+bestaudio[ext=m4a]/best[ext=mp4]/best',
'outtmpl': '%(title)s.%(ext)s',
'progress_hooks': [lambda d: print(f'Progress: {d["_percent_str"]}' if d["status"] == "downloading" else "Complete" if d["status"] == "finished" else "")],
}
try:
print("Starting download...")
with yt_dlp.YoutubeDL(ydl_opts) as ydl:
# Print video information
info = ydl.extract_info(url, download=False)
print(f"\nTitle: {info['title']}")
print(f"Duration: {info['duration']} seconds")
# Start download
ydl.download([url])
print("\nDownload complete!")
except Exception as e:
print(f"\nError: {str(e)}")
print("Download failed. Please check the URL and try again.")
Use code with caution.
YouTube video URL to download
video_url = "https://youtu.be/mSsWLnpN7k8?si=BdHpzhLR2vuLG9xn"
download_youtube_video(video_url)
Conclusion: The Intersection of Childcare and Programming
Now, starting the day with my child listening to nursery rhymes every morning has become much easier. There's no worry about buffering or slow internet. I can even take the downloaded nursery rhymes with me when I go out, so it's a win-win.
Sometimes, I think I find the real fun of programming in solving these small everyday problems. Seeing the synergy between childcare and programming, two completely different areas, I plan to continue using programming to solve such practical problems in the future. How about you try solving the small inconveniences you encounter in your daily life with code?
